Kembi Gitura Quits Top Govt Job, Says He Has Never Supported Ruto
Gitura said his resignation was driven by political factors
Marvin Chege 
Former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura has stepped down as Chair of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Board, just eight months after his appointment, citing political and personal reasons.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 26, Gitura said his resignation was driven by political factors, explaining that he has never supported the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and remains opposed to its policies.
Appointed on December 20, 2024, through a gazette notice, the former senator admitted that serving as board chair limited his ability to openly criticise government policies, particularly on governance and corruption.
“When I accepted this role, many of my friends and political supporters questioned whether I had shifted my allegiance to UDA. I explained that this was not a political appointment, but optics matter. People still linked me to the government,” he noted.
A building at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. /AIR DESIGN KENYA
“For the record, I do not support UDA government policies on virtually all fronts. I do not want to mislead anyone by my actions, words, or deeds. In 2027, every vote will count, and I want my political stand to be clear."
Gitura, who contested the 2022 elections on a Jubilee ticket, clarified that his resignation had nothing to do with shortcomings at KUTRRH, which he commended as a thriving institution helping reduce the number of Kenyans seeking treatment abroad.
The former Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Chairperson said his decision was driven by public perception, noting that many would question why he accepted a political appointment from a government whose policies he does not support.
"I have resigned due to the personal conflicts I have mentioned above. True, I may be doing a good job at helping make positive change at the hospital, like I know so many other people are doing in various other national institutions," Gitura pointed out.
"But I am a politician, and the question is, what do all the people who would otherwise listen to my viewpoint think of my having taken a political appointment from a government I do not support, or, for that matter, believe in?
"What do they think of me when I do not speak out loudly as I have always been known to do on the very many issues confronting us, amongst them the rampant corruption now afflicting our nation like a ravaging cancer?"
The former senator reaffirmed his commitment to integrity in politics and the pursuit of national unity, while cautioning against tribalism and corruption. He added that he wishes to be remembered for standing on the right side of history in shaping the country’s future.
By Tuesday, August 26, the Ministry of Health had yet to comment on Gitura’s resignation or announce his replacement on the KUTRRH board.
A lawyer by profession, Gitura has had a long career in politics and public service. He was appointed to the role on December 19, 2024, for a three-year term.
He first entered the Senate in 2013 as Murang’a County’s inaugural senator under the Jubilee Party, serving until 2017, during which he also held the position of Deputy Speaker in the Eleventh Parliament. He later contested the Murang’a governorship in the 2017 General Election but was unsuccessful.
Beyond elective politics, Gitura has held several senior roles in public administration, including chairing the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). He also served as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union.
His appointment to chair the KUTRRH board was part of government efforts to bolster leadership in the health sector. President Ruto announced his nomination in late 2024, and he officially assumed office that December.
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